Harmonicus Rex

Tom McCarter
Hendrik Meurkens
Harmonicus Rex
Height Advantage

This is a fabulous set from a 25 year veteran who has come back to straight ahead jazz
after playing Brazilian music for many years. I particularly like the interplay with the trumpet.
Long-time veteran Jimmy Cobb holds down the drums. The resto of the band are up & coming.
Everyone is top notch. I also like that his repertoire is drawn from lesser known tracks by famous players.
Genre: jazz
If You Like: Toots Thielmans, Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter
FCCs: none
Favorite Tracks: Mundell’s Mood, SKJ, Up Jumped Spring, Mean Dog Blues, Darn That Dream
Track Review:
1. Mundell’s Mood – fast jam with trumpet wailing
2. Slidin’ – starts slow and builds. Flute duets
3. In Your Own Sweet Way – slow with nice flourishes, harmonica leads
4. Afternoon – slow ballad, emotive harmonica, duet with trumpet
5. SKJ – boppin’ piano intro gorgeous trumpet solo, everyone in the groove
6. Falling in Love with Love – uptempo swinging romp, all harmonica
7. A Summer in San Francisco – slow ballad, piano intro, a gorgeous duet with flute
8. Up Jumped Spring – piano intro, everybody swings, trumpet shines
9. Mean Dog Blues – Straight bop, the hardest swing on the CD, great solos all around
10. Darn That Dream – slow tune with gorgeous flourishes on harmonica, false ending
11. What’s New – another gorgeous ballad with harmonica solos